Irish Journals: An Introduction

So many journals and so much information within their pages. Many ignore the likes of the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries in Ireland, what do genealogists want with an ‘Antiquarian’ journal. The first thing that spring to mind is archaeology when one thinks of antiquaries. The same can be said for all these journals lists as ‘Archaeological and Historical’ journals. What could possibly be in them that would be relevant to the family historian, the genealogist? History in school is always presented as facts and figures, so what would we find in an archaeological and historical journal?


A wealth of information – to those who went before the words ‘antiquary’ meant ‘about things past’ and that covered everything. They wrote parish histories, the gave lists and lists of names, they spoke of historical events – but not in the same way that we are ‘taught’ history in school. These were people who loved localities and topics with a passion and so they wrote about these places and these things. They wrote of folklore, traditions, customs, old words, meanings of words, placenames. It is in the older journals that we find the most information relevant to the genealogist. Todays publications tend to be more archaeological in content than in the past. Gradually, this web site will list the articles in these journals. Beginning now, with the first five years of ‘Seanchas’; ‘The Journal of the Waterford and South East of Ireland Archaeological and Historical Society’ and ‘The Journal of the Kildare Archaeological and Historical Society’. Two months from now, another five years will be added to each of these pages and a start will be made on ‘The Irish Ancestor’; ‘The Irish Genealogist’; ‘The Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society’ and ‘The Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society’.

Some of the journals listed here no longer exist, some may only have been published for a few years or a few volumes, some are the result of divisions of an earlier society, and some are the journals as named before that division. Some are produced by Historical Societies and others are simply published by enthusiastic local people on an annual basis.

Annelecta Hibernica

Archivum Hibernicum

Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Historical Society Journal

Ardmore Journal

Arklow Historical Society Journal

Athenry Journal

Bandon Historical Journal

Benbradagh – Dungiven parish magazine

Blackrock Society Proceedings

Bray Historical Record

Breifne

Breifny

Carlow past and present

Carlowviana

Carrickfergus and District Historical Society Journal

Charleville and District Historical Society Journal

Clogher Record – Clogher Historical Society

Cloughjordan Heritage

Collectiana Hibernicae
Cork Genealogical Society Journal

Craigavon Historical Society Review

Dál na gCais

Decies

Deenside

Derriana

Donegal Annual – Donegal Historical Society

Down & Connor Historical Society Magazine

Dublin Historical Record (Journal of the Old Dublin Society)

Dúchas Néill; Journal of the O’Neill Country Society

Duhallow Magazine (Seanchas Duhallow)

Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society

East Belfast Historical Society Journal

Eighteenth Century Ireland

Galvia (in Irish)

Glynns, The (Journal of the Glens of Antrim Historical Society)

History Ireland

Heart of Breifny

Historical Belfast Magazine

Irish Family Links

Irish Studies (publ. by the Irish American Cultural Institute)

In the Shadow of the Steeple – Tullaherin Heritage Society

Irish Family History Link to IFH Society.

Irish Historical Studies

Irisleabhar Muighe Nuadhad (Maynooth)

Journal of Irish Archaeology

Journal of the Ivernian Society (language, literature, music, art etc.)

Journal of the Bangor Historical Society

Journal of the Cork History and Archaeological Society

Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society

Journal of the Donegal Historical Society

Journal of the Dromore Dioscescan Family Historical Society (Seanchas Dhroim Mor)

Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society

Journal of the Galway Family History Society (Galway Roots)

Journal of the Glens of Antrim Historical Society (see Glynns)

Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society

Journal of the Kildare Archaeological and Historical Society

Journal of the Kildare Society

Proceedings/Journal of the Kilkenny and South East of Ireland Archaeological and Historical Society

Journal of the Mourne Local Studies Group (12 Miles of Mourne)

Journal of the North Munster Archaeological Society (North Munster Antiquarian Society?)

Journal of the Old Athlone Society

Journal of the Old Drogheda Society

Journal of the Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society

Journal of the Royal Antiquary Society of Ireland

Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries in Ireland

Journal of the Shannon Archaeological and Historical Society (The Other Clare)

Journal of the Waterford & South-East of Ireland Archaeological and Historical Society

Journal of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society

Journal of the Westport historical Society (Cathair na Mart)

Journal of the Wexford Historical Society

Journals of the Butler Society

Kenmare Literary and Historical Society

Kinsale Historical Journal

Lecale Miscellany

Limerick Field Journal

Lisburn Historical Society Journal

Local History Review

Lough Gur Historical Society Journal

Mallow Field Club

Mizen Journal

North Irish Roots. Journal of the North of Ireland Family History Society

North Mayo historical and Archaeological Society Journal

Old Athlone society

Old Blarney

Old Kilkenny Review

Old Limerick Journal

Old Newry Journal

Oughtera

Rathdowney Review

Reportorium Novum

Riocht na Midhe

Saintfield Heritage

Seanchas Ardmhaca

Seanchas Chairbre

South Derry Historical Society Journal

South Mayo Family History Research Journal

Teathbha

The Carlowvian

The Drumlin, a Journal of Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan

The Glynns (see Glynns and Journal of the Glens of Antrim Historical Society)

The Irish Ancestor

The Irish Sword

The Past – Wexford’s Past

Roundwood Historical and Folklore Journal

Sliabh Aughty – East Clare heritage Journal

Studia Hibernica

Tempests Annual

Times Past

Tipperary Historical Journal

Transactions of the Ossory Archaeological Society

Ulster Journal of Archaeology